Erwin Rommel

Crosses the River Meuse

Strikes out towards the Channel ports via Peronne & Cambrai

Begins the "German pocket" which will cut the Allied forces in two

Advances as far as Avesnes

Advances as far as Le Cateau

Rommel engages the British with 88-mm anti-tank guns. 5 British Brigades stop the SS Totenkopf & manage to create a retreat to Dunkirk

Wins the battle but fails to capture the deep sea port of Tobruk

Begins to fight for Bardia, 60 miles east of Torbruk

Rommel begins to attack Tobruk

Rommel captures Bardia

Ordered to consolidate on the Egyptian border & concentrate on capturing Tobruk

The British are driven out of Halfaya Pass

The Eighth Panzer Regiment destroys 60 British tanks

Failed Btitish attempt on the German held pass south the Libya-Cyrenaica border

The Western Desert Force loses 200 tanks. Orders a general assault to destroy the British around Halfaya

Partially defeats the British 7th Armoured Division in an attempt to recapture Tobruk

1st day of the battle to cover the tracks of the Eighth Armys withdrawal from Tobruk

The attack on the British fails. Evacuates the eastern Tobruk perimeter to attack the British at Bir el Gobi

Withdraws to Gazala & Tobruk is relieved by the Allies

The Allies recapture Bardia

Rommel sends his armour south of Bir-Hakeim to outflank the British

Captures Tobruk then plans to move onto the Suez Canal

Rommel captures Mersa Matruh

Rommel recaptures Bardia for the 2nd time

Captures Bir-Hakeim

Attacks at El Alamein after reaching Egypt, but is stopped before he can advance toward the Suez Canal.

Auchinleck breaks up attacks by exhausted German armour on Ruweisat Ridge during the First Battle of El Alamein.

Attacks the Alam Halfa line in a final attempt to break through toward the Nile Delta and the Suez Canal.

Rommel attacks south of El Alamein at Alam Halfa, attempting to renew the Axis advance toward Suez.

Rommel fails to break through the British line south of El Alamein during the Battle of Alam Halfa.

Rommel's renewed attack near Alam Halfa is contained by the British defence.

Rommel calls off the Alam Halfa attack after heavy losses in men, tanks, vehicles and guns.

Rommel is forced to retreat after the failure of the Axis attack at Alam Halfa.

Commands Axis forces at El Alamein and fails to break through to the Nile Delta and the Suez Canal.

The British Eighth Army opens the offensive at El Alamein while Georg Stumme commands Axis forces in Rommel's absence.

Returns from Germany to command Panzer Army Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Rommel's armour is badly reduced during the Second Battle of El Alamein while Hitler forbids withdrawal.

The Afrika Korps is reduced to 114 tanks but Hitler orders that they must hold its ground

Bernard Montgomery launches an attack on the Deutsches Afrika Korps at Kidney Ridge

Rommel captures Tobruk. Bernard Montgomery launches an attack on the Deutsches Afrika Korps at Kidney Ridge

Rommel begins withdrawing after Montgomery's forces break the Axis position at El Alamein.

Rommell decides to withdraw from Tobruk, Hitler forces Rommel to stay. Bernard Montgomery launches an attack on the Deutsches Afrika Korps at Kidney Ridge

The Axis army is defeated at El Alamein and retreats westward across Libya.

The British recapture Bardia

The Axis loss of Tobruk follows the retreat from El Alamein and weakens Rommel's North African position.

Defeats the II US Corps in Tunisia

Defeats the II US Corps in Tunisia

Rommel tries to halt the Eighth 200 miles east of Tripoli but retreats to Tripoli

Rommel returned to the Normandy front and reinforced the effort to hold Caen against Allied attacks.